Up to date:
Jan 13, 2023
We check out a few of this week’s Premier League video games, together with a crunch conflict between the Machester golf equipment in an enormous derby and an enormous relegation 6-pointer between Everton and Southampton.
This Week’s Premier League Fixtures
Aston Villa v Leeds
Man United v Man Metropolis
Brighton v Liverpool
Everton v Southampton
Nottingham Forest v Leicester
Wolves v West Ham
Brentford v Bournemouth
Chelsea v Crystal Palace
Newcastle v Fulham
Spurs v Arsenal
Man United v Man Metropolis
This recreation needs to be good. The early kick-off on Saturday pits the 2 Manchester golf equipment towards one another at Previous Trafford. The final time these two groups met, at The Etihad, Man Metropolis ran riot, successful 6-3. The scoreline may have been lots worse too, had Martial not lowered the deficit twice within the latter levels of the sport.
Man United have come a great distance since this recreation. They’ve stored 6 clear sheets out of their final 10 video games, have received their final 3 video games within the league and have stored clear sheets in all of those video games.
In all competitions, United have received their final 8 video games, with Rashford scoring 7 targets in his final 6 video games. Going ahead, United are a special animal now. Rashford is on hearth, Fernandes can’t cease helping, Garnacho is proving to be a invaluable younger addition to the squad, and even in midfield Casemiro had proved the distinction, they usually look rather more assured in these areas now.
Defensively United have been reworked. After conceding 6 towards Man Metropolis, of their subsequent 10 league video games, they’ve solely conceded greater than as soon as on one event, towards Aston Villa. Defending towards Man Metropolis can be a major take a look at for ten Haag and Man United, they need to pose extra risk than Wolves, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.
United can be in excessive spirits for this. Good type, scoring targets, and preserving clear sheets. They’ve additionally superior to the semi-final of the Carabao Cup and likewise progressed within the FA Cup. This confidence may very well be very important.
Man Metropolis have been in detached type currently, which isn’t one thing that’s mentioned typically about Guardiola’s facet. They can’t appear to string collectively a run of outcomes as of late.
Since Metropolis dropped factors towards Brentford, they beat Leeds, drew at dwelling towards a struggling Everton, beat Chelsea twice in every week, as soon as within the league, as soon as within the cup, after which misplaced towards Southampton within the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
The loss towards Southampton will need to have knocked confidence out of the gamers, and the followers. They didn’t handle a single shot on the right track, Kalvin Phillips had a surprising recreation, and their attacking play simply didn’t appear to click on. Pepe has come out and claimed that he has one thing particular in retailer for the United recreation, and will probably be attention-grabbing to see what tactical tweaks he makes for this recreation.
It isn’t an excellent time for Metropolis to be going via a tough patch, developing towards their largest rivals, with in-form gamers corresponding to Rashford and Casemiro, while making an attempt to maintain tempo with Arsenal on the high of the desk. It will be an ideal recreation for Metropolis to bounce again and win, however it’s going to be tough for them.
This may very well be one of many video games of the season if either side flip up. It is going to be tough for either side. Metropolis try to interrupt down a troublesome, resilient defence, whereas United should attempt to defend towards top-of-the-line attacking sides within the league. I believe a really entertaining draw is on the playing cards right here.
Prediction: Man United 2 – 2 Man Metropolis
Brighton v Liverpool
Brighton are one other facet in detached type for the time being. Of their final 5 video games, they’ve received 3 and misplaced 2, failing to place a string of wins collectively. They have been unlucky of their two losses, nevertheless. A loss towards Villa, regardless of Brighton outplaying them, and an especially entertaining 4-2 loss towards Arsenal.
Their 4-1 win towards Everton final week actually put them again on monitor. They acquired again to their greatest with their attacking show, and a few of their gamers are actually placing themselves on the radar. Mitoma continued his good type with one other well-taken aim, taking two gamers on earlier than discovering the again of the online.
One other participant that has surprisingly impressed in current weeks is Evan Ferguson. He, like Mitoma, has scored 2 targets of their final 2 video games, and the teenager is actually proving his value within the Premier League.
Brighton haven’t received at dwelling within the Premier League of their final 2 makes an attempt, which is one thing they are going to need to put proper towards Liverpool. If Brighton’s key gamers flip up, they might flip this into an intriguing tie.
Liverpool, however, had their run of 4 video games unbeaten ended by Brentford in good trend final day trip. Regardless of there being no Ivan Toney for the hosts, Liverpool nonetheless struggled to cope with the physicality of Brentford and have been well-beaten come the top of the match.
They then additionally struggled within the FA Cup. They need to have been overwhelmed by Wolves, who had a wonderfully good aim dominated out by VAR, with the match ending 2-2 and being taken to a replay. These indicators are worrying for Liverpool, particularly when they’re making an attempt to shut down the hole between themselves and the highest 4.
Liverpool do sometimes flip up for the massive video games. The final time these two sides met, Leandro Trossard scored a hattrick in an entertaining 3-3 draw, with Firminho scoring twice for The Reds.
Surprisingly, this recreation may go both approach. When Liverpool flip up, they will railroad a crew and overwhelm the defence. Brighton have proven that they are often defensively weak, and Liverpool might look to use this.
This can be a tough one to name. Brighton have struggled at dwelling as of late, however Liverpool are additionally not in the very best type anymore. This needs to be an in depth recreation, separated by a single aim. I believe Liverpool’s struggles this season will proceed right here, with a slender loss.
Prediction: Brighton 2 – 1 Liverpool
Everton v Southampton
What an enormous recreation on the backside of the desk that is, 18th towards twentieth, each groups in dire type within the league, each needing an important 3 factors to kickstart their survival bid, this may very well be one of many video games of the weekend. The significance of that is big.
Everton beat Southampton the final time these groups met, with Coady and McNeil scoring within the second half, coming from behind to win 2-1. Since then, Everton have received only one of their subsequent 10 video games, shedding 6 within the course of.
Everton are going to be with Alex Iwobi, certainly one of their higher performers this season after he acquired injured throughout their defeat towards Man United within the FA Cup. He’s going to be an enormous miss for them, as when Everton go ahead, every little thing appears to undergo him. He has pulled Everton via some video games, and their midfield will miss him massively.
One participant they appear to have the ability to depend on now’s Demarai Grey. He has scored in Everton’s final two league fixtures and is now their joint-top scorer, alongside Anthony Gordon. They want him to step up and carry out constantly now if they’ve any probability of surviving the drop.
How lengthy does Frank Lampard have left? He’s already below heavy strain, and a loss right here would put them stage on factors with Southampton, that means they might probably end the day joint-bottom of the league. I really feel that in the event that they do lose right here, Lampard will get sacked.
Southampton are an odd facet below new boss Nathan Jones. Within the Premier League, they’ve misplaced each single recreation below him thus far. The loss towards Nottingham Forest proved to be a step too far for some followers, with them audibly displaying their lack of assist for Jones and his fashion of soccer.
Nonetheless, outdoors of the Premier League, Southampton appear to be a special soccer crew. Beneath Jones, they’ve overwhelmed Lincoln, Crystal Palace and, extra surprisingly, Man Metropolis within the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup. They’ve received back-to-back video games in all competitions, and they should carry this manner into the league.
Southampton may very well be favourites for this recreation as a consequence of these cup performances, particularly after their efficiency towards Man Metropolis. They actually need to select a win up within the league, having gone 7 video games with out a win.
Ward-Prowse is clearly a serious participant for Southampton. A free-kick specialist is completely very important for a crew languishing on the backside of the desk. He has solely scored 3 instances this season however has discovered the online in 2 of the final 3 video games. If he can proceed this manner, Southampton might discover themselves steadily transferring away from the underside of the desk.
This may very well be an excellent recreation, and an important one when it comes to the relegation struggle. It needs to be a decent, cagey affair. Neither crew will need to lose, or depart themselves too open. I believe the type of Southampton after the 2 cup video games, and Everton’s horrendous type, will result in a 3rd win in all competitions for Southampton, leaving Everton in large bother.
Prediction: Everton 0 – 1 Southampton
Wolves v West Ham
That is one other crunch match between two sides on the mistaken finish of the desk, with Nineteenth-place Wolves internet hosting Seventeenth-place West Ham. This recreation is huge for either side. A win for Wolves would haul themselves out of the underside three, whereas a win for West Ham would put a ways between themselves and the Championship.
Wolves have been a significantly better facet since they returned from the World Cup break. They beat a struggling Everton, misplaced to Man United by a slender aim, and drew towards a tough Aston Villa facet. Their performances have been a lot improved, and that confirmed throughout their 2-2 draw towards Liverpool within the FA Cup, which they deserved to win.
These performances ought to carry confidence to a struggling facet, and what an necessary recreation to get that enhance of confidence for. A win towards one other certainly one of their relegation rivals could be an enormous enhance for Wolves, particularly after beating Everton the opposite week, they usually might need to decide up factors while they will, as their subsequent two video games are towards Man Metropolis and Liverpool.
It has not been plain crusing for Wolves, nevertheless. They have been knocked out of the Carabao Cup quarter-finals by Nottingham Forest, shedding 4-3 on penalties after drawing 1-1 in common time. Wolves have been the higher facet on this tie, and their common lack of goalscoring capacity flared up as soon as once more, with solely certainly one of their 5 photographs on the right track being transformed.
One other supervisor that may actually be feeling the warmth is David Moyes, the place did all of it go mistaken for him? West Ham have been an excellent facet final 12 months, so entertaining to observe, stable on the again, and all the time offered an excellent problem for the massive groups. This 12 months, it’s the exact opposite. They can’t see to attain targets, they usually look so frail on the again.
It’s unusual, as West Ham have finished so nicely in Europe this season. Within the Europa Convention League, West Ham have received all 6 of their video games, and placed on some good shows, with some tipping them as potential winners of the competitors. Will their worldwide type proceed when the knockout levels resume? Or will their Premier League type have an effect on them right here?
West Ham did handle to cease the rot of 5 defeats on the bounce with a 2-2 draw at Elland Highway towards Leeds. While they have been lucky to get a draw total, they confirmed one thing they haven’t proven within the majority of their video games this season. Composure. They scored from each of their photographs on the right track, which is important for The Hammers, as they’ve struggled to attain constantly this season.
This, just like the Everton v Southampton recreation, may go both approach. Wolves are the higher facet coming into this recreation, they usually have the house benefit, which is why I’m backing them to drag themselves out of the relegation zone right here, and put Moyes into extra bother.
Prediction: Wolves 1 – 0 West Ham
Spurs v Arsenal
That is one other stern take a look at for Arsenal and their title credentials. Spurs have to sustain the tempo with Man United to try to end within the high 4. Every little thing factors to this being one more thrilling tie on this spherical of fixtures.
Spurs are an odd facet. They can’t appear to carry out nicely throughout the first 45 minutes of soccer. While they do enhance within the second half, if Arsenal handle to place 2 or 3 previous them within the first 45 minutes, the sport will successfully be over. Conte ought to have them fired up for this one although, however their lack of targets within the first 45 minutes needs to be regarding for him.
Spurs have been again to their greatest towards Crystal Palace. After their common first 45 minutes, they blitzed Palace within the second half, with Kane scoring twice in a 4-0 win, taking his tally to fifteen for the season. He might have a giant function to play on this London derby, and he did rating within the reverse fixture, albeit in a 3-1 loss.
For Spurs, your entire recreation may hinge on their first-half efficiency. In the event that they handle to finish their barren run throughout the first 45 minutes, then they’ve an amazing probability of successful this tie. In the event that they let Arsenal stroll throughout them, then they may very well be in big bother.
Arsenal can be trying ahead to this tie. This can be a nice probability to show a few of their doubters mistaken about their title aspirations. Arteta could have his facet prepped for the derby, they won’t let the event get to their head. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see how they strategy this recreation relying on the Man Metropolis end result towards United. If they will match Metropolis’s end result, Arsenal can be comfortable.
Arsenal did slip up final week towards Newcastle, they usually have been unlucky to not win. Newcastle have been camped in their very own third all through the vast majority of the second half, while Arsenal created half-chance after half-chance. While Eddie Nketiah has been good for Arsenal thus far, they might have missed Jesus right here, as he would have had the flexibility to unlock a stable Newcastle defence.
They nonetheless sit 5 factors clear on the high of the desk, and can’t afford to chill out. Metropolis are on this title race for the lengthy haul and can take Arsenal all the best way if they should. Metropolis and Arsenal nonetheless play one another twice, so each level Arsenal can achieve is important.
This can be a powerful one to name. I do imagine that Arsenal will win this, however it’s a derby recreation, they usually are likely to throw up surprises, and all of it is determined by how Spurs determine to play within the first half. I’m going to go together with the identical scoreline from the reverse fixture right here.
Prediction: Spurs 1 – 3 Arsenal
Different Predictions
- Aston Villa 2 – 1 Leeds
- Nottingham Forest 2 – 0 Leicester
- Brentford 3 – 0 Bournemouth
- Chelsea 1 – 1 Crystal Palace
- Newcastle 2 – 0 Fulham
